Star Wars - Tales from the Outer Rim

"A Change of Plans"

By: Cirran Tyris (PC)
Mystery NPC+s

Location: The Drogen Shipyards, Tae'Remok system, Outer Rim
Date: Selene 22, 5 ABY

***

Cirran left the medical centre. Walker looked fine enough floating in the bacta, and the medical droid had confirmed that he would recover fully - well, it had added that Sgt. Coin would need rest as well, which was no doubt not appreciated by its patient - but Cirran was still thinking about when Walker had first limped in yesterday, and the sight of the ugly burn wound over his friend's ribs as the droids had carefully peeled off his blistered armour. It wasn't the injury itself that disturbed him - he'd seen plenty like it, and worse, during the Rebellion - but the fact that he was the cause of it.

You'd be dead if it weren't for Walker, Tyris - again, he thought to himself as he slouched along the promenade, his hands deep in his pockets. You're a menace to anyone close to you these days. His thoughts flew back to Jandra, incinerated over Vortan II, Cirran forced to watch horrified from the bridge of the 'Hawk's Cry' at the fiery trail her blazing X-Wing had cut through space, waiting for an ejection that never came. The image of her face, with its shock of jet-black hair and flashing green eyes, flashed into his mind, along with the sound of her last transmission, a terrified cry cut off by the explosion of the fighter. Cirran was suddenly struck with feelings he had successfully repressed for a long time, a sharp pang of loss threatening to overwhelm him. He stopped walking and slumped into a crouching position, trying to centre himself in the sudden maelstrom of thoughts and feelings about all that he had lost.

After a few moments, the curiosity towards his sudden collapse from one or two passers by brought Cirran back to himself. He stood up and forced himself to take a couple of deep breaths. Get a grip, Cirran, he told himself. This is neither the time or the place to go to pieces. He rubbed his eyes, fighting against the exhaustion of worry and a sleepless night, spent wandering around his ship restlessly while 4 security troops, Walker's doing, stood guard outside his ship. After a minute or so, the sudden up swell of emotion had subsided and been replaced by a grim resolve.

He was a dangerous man to know, that much was clear. Maybe he'd done something to offend the gods, or maybe the cosmos was just messing with him, but since he'd left the Saluya system, it had been one disaster after another. He'd come to the Tae 'Remok system following the trail of Gorta Jax, and now after many months he'd found that the bastard actually was in the system, somewhere. But that was about the most progress he could have been said to have made, and besides, Jax had found Cirran, not the other way around. Cirran himself still had no idea exactly where Jax was, what he was doing here, or why he appeared to be giving him these clues to his whereabouts. And besides that whole sorry ongoing mess, he'd landed himself in an endless string of additional trouble. He seemed to have made all kinds of powerful enemies, and he'd only managed to make it through the consequences of that because of the friends he had made on this station - friends that he was putting in danger with his mere presence.

I can't let this go on, he thought to himself. Cirran knew his luck couldn't hold forever, and even Walker couldn't survive an endless string of 8-on-2 firefights. He'd already put himself on the line for Cirran plenty of times. And what was going to happen to Lerrah and Tasia if whoever these people that were after him worked out that they had been involved in his little jaunt to Coruscant? Gods! The thought of those bounty hunters from yesterday coming across Lerrah, who unlike Cirran, didn't spend most of his time on this crate in the company of a seemingly indestructible giant fighting machine - the thought of any harm coming to either (of them because of him - well sure, the crew chief certainly rubbed him up the wrong way on occasion, but he had to admit she had spirit, and he certainly wouldn't want to wish 8 desperate bounty hunters on her. You're an idiot, Tyris. She was right, we never should have opened it. Should have delivered it and come back. But no, you had to grow a conscience. And now, suddenly, there was Mielikki to worry about as well...what if she was around next time bounty hunters came calling?

Cirran couldn't watch these people get hurt any more, put at risk because of him, because of things he had done. He couldn't go through any more of this - not again. Gorta Jax might be here somewhere, and with him a chance of finding out what had happened to Kemma, but for the first time in a long while, that was no longer the most important thing in the galaxy to him. He set out down the concourse again, his path taking him towards where his ship was berthed.

***

The room was dark, confined, and isolated, but the heated conversation taking place in it brought a certain liveliness to the otherwise dreary location.

"Eight of them?"

"Yes. Dregs who barely knew one end of a blaster from the other, by all accounts.They apparently just walked in to the bar and started blazing. But we got lucky again. That security man knows what he's doing."

"Lucky? That's all you have to say, is that we were lucky? Do you know what will happen to us if we can't deliver on our end of the agreement?"

"Look, I was 60 levels away doing a comm check for surveillance in his ship, he's only just got back here, how could I know that..."

"I DON'T WANT YOUR EXCUSES!"

The sudden and portentous silence that hung in the air after this statement seemed to bring the two participants in the conversation into the same room, even though in reality they were separated by thousands of kilometers. Then the clipped, commanding tones of the superior resumed over the commlink again, his cool control now restored.

"I have no need to remind you that our deadline is approaching. I have no need to remind you that should we make our delivery, we will become rich above and beyond our wildest dreams of avarice. And I especially have no need to remind you what will happen to us if we do not meet expectations. I strongly suspect that Mun'tak, if anything, has actually understated the non-existent tolerance the Jau have for failure. We do not want to be on the wrong side of the new order when it is established - and make no mistake, a new order will be established, especially when we deliver on our promises."

The voice paused briefly as if to let these so-called non-reminders sink in, before continuing in the same measured tones:

"I should perhaps remind you that key to our success is possessing Tyris alive, for it is something that you seem to have forgotten."

"I don't see..." his servant began to protest, but was cut off:

"What you do not see..." said the voice on the commlink pointedly, his voice rising menacingly again "...is the whole picture. Leave the decision making to me, and you will find that you will share in the benefits that follow. I know you have an account to settle with the man personally, but all I ask is a delay to your gratification. Besides..." he remarked, more flippantly now, "...if you fail to keep Tyris alive, it seems one of the many factions lining up to do him harm will rob you of your rightful revenge." The smirk could be heard in his voice.

"It's just so frustrating to be actually protecting him," his servant complained.

"And difficult, too, I shouldn't wonder," the officer replied, irked. "Justin and Elyssa Tyris were brilliant, geniuses the pair of them really, and that is our salvation - but how such intelligent and resourceful parents produced such disappointing offspring is quite beyond me, really. He certainly can't be relied upon to keep himself alive."

"I will try harder," his servant promised, admonished.

"I fear things have progressed to the point where you will no longer be enough," was the response. "If New Dawn has increased the bounty to the point where pond-sucking scum are prepared to just openly start blasting when they see him passing, ignoring the fact they are on a relatively secure station...we can't protect him from that..." The officer paused to consider his remaining options, and reached an inevitable conclusion. "We must go to the source."

"As we did with the Hutt?" his servant queried.

"From what we know of New Dawn, which is little, it is far from being the sort of operation I can simply walk into and eliminate, as I did with that deluded worm. It is well organised, well funded, and well run. And someone in it somewhere, someone with at least enough weight in the organisation to throw around some serious credits, seems to want Tyris badly... hmmm, perhaps we should simply grant them their wish. Yes - why chase him around ourselves?" There was a pause. "Negotiation...in the end, all is merely negotiation," the officer said, his tone knowing and as dry as dust. The servant waited through another brief pause as the officer formulated his orders. "You will concentrate on contacting New Dawn - increased security around Tyris on Drogen should be enough to protect him from such thuggish further attacks for now. It should not be difficult for you to quickly make an initial contact. We make it known that we are prepared to offer the - shall we say, favours - that we are in position to provide to such an organisation, in return for Tyris's life. Our offer, and our interest in Tyris, should certainly be enough to attract the attention of the person we are looking for, or one of their representatives. From there we can come to an arrangement. It certainly doesn't matter what they actually do to Tyris of course, so long as he's alive and reasonably functional afterwards."

"And do we intend to deliver on these promises? Won't we risk exposure?" the officer's underling queried.

Across space, the man shrugged, unconcerned. "If we have to do so briefly, so be it. It will be only a short time before any power that New Dawn or any organisation like it in this system has will be forever crushed, and the person we are forced to deal with is most likely dead. And from that day forth, we will certainly no longer have any need to worry about exposure. No, I would say that from then, all bets - and all deals - are off. All but the one between Mun'Tak and us - and the one between me and you."

The servant smiled at the endless wisdom of the officer. "Yes, our deal. I haven't forgotten," was the reply given, and still grinning at the thought of revenge, the servant headed out into the station to do the master's bidding.

"Visiting the Serpent"
By: Analesse D'Vrishay
Reinrich Tas [NPC+]

Location: Reinrich's Offices, Yesdol, New Plouton
Date: Selene 22, 5 ABY

***

"Mr. Tas doesn't take visitors without appointment." The young blonde delivered another snooty grin, her irreverent attitude further implying a less than platonic relationship with the girl's employer. Analesse wondered if there wasn't a woman Reinrich Tas hadn't at least attempted to seduce.

"If you'll just tell him I'm here," Analesse explained slowly, her smile and tone condescending, "then I'm certain he'll see me."

Face scrunching up in a scowl, the receptionist indignantly jabbed her intercom. "Mr. Tas?" she sang. "You have a visitor - a Ms. D'vrishay." Analesse could have sworn she saw the young woman's tongue dart out at her rudely. Then, Reinrich's smarmy voice slithered from the speaker. "I think I can fit her in... Let her pass, Veda, and hold all my calls."

"Yes, Mr. Tas," she muttered unhappily and all but sneered at Analesse as she jerked a thumb towards Reinrich's office. Analesse ignored the insignificant girl and carried herself confidently past the reception area towards Reinrich's office.

The hallway leading to his lair was a stretch of sanguine carpet flanked by teal walls that were replete with gleamink wall hangings of Reinrich in various poses, all imperious, arrogant, and bearing his always vaguely carnal grin. Analesse rolled her eyes, wondering if Reinrich's self-indulgent display was meant to impress his guests, or provide a farcically accurate introduction to the irrepressible Mr. Tas, one he may not have intended. Having known Reinrich for some time, Analesse was none too surprised by his public idol worship - to himself - but was amazed he had chosen to expose his conceit to potential business associates, who might undoubtedly deem him unprofessional and incompetent. Analesse remained convinced that he was both.

Glad to leave behind multiple Reinrich's in exchange for one, Analesse reached his door. It sensed her arrival and slid away, presenting Analesse with a mild shock, for Reinrich was barely a foot away from the doorway, two filled wineglasses cupped in each palm. His openly lascivious smile was, of course, in place. Analesse stepped back in surprise. "So, Lessa," he purred, "finally come to your senses?"

She folded both arms across her chest as his roaming eyes wandered there. "No, Reinrich," she sighed, "I did that the day you asked me to your bed. Now can we talk?"

His smile remained firmly set. "Of course." And he moved aside, one arm sweeping towards his office, and the other extending Analesse's way to thrust the drink upon her. She frowned at him sidelong, and as the glass was barring her passage into the room, Analesse snatched it from Reinrich's grip, with no intention of sampling.

"That's better," Reinrich drawled.

Always alert and wary in his presence, Analesse successfully evaded his now free hand reaching up to caress her shoulder. She sidestepped him and backed up to create distance. He smiled innocently. "Stay away, Reinrich," she warned. "I'm not here for you to toy with."

"I was simply curious about what fabric that shirt was fashioned from," he explained. "Koolach silk?"

Analesse narrowed her eyes at him impatiently. "Who is it, Rich? Who's been funding you, and more importantly, who's been feeding you this personal information about me?"

Slowly prowling the room, eyes always on Analesse and gleaming wolfishly, Reinrich shrugged off her questions. "I guess you were too inebriated to remember our nights together." He sighed heavily, sadly, though the lust never left his gaze. "If you'd like a reminder, we could..."

"Reinrich," she cautioned acridly, "who is it? I don't want to threaten you, but you know I have information about you I could very easily leak to the press. Don't force my hand."

"And I do believe," he responded viciously, "I warned you once before where that course of action would lead you." His gait grew heavy and threatening as he carried himself towards Analesse swiftly. She rounded the desk, putting it between herself and Reinrich. Drink tossed aside, Reinrich slammed both hands down atop the surface, rattling the various loose items ornamenting his desktop. His smile had transformed entirely into a sneer, the true Reinrich Tas conveniently absent from the gleamink paintings outside finally making an appearance. "You try it, bitch, and I'll do far more than destroy your relationship," he snarled.

Analesse remained unintimidated and indelicately deposited her drink onto the same desktop as she leaned over its edge to peer across at Reinrich. "Then tell me," she pressed. "Who told you about the birthmark, Tas? Who's putting you up to this, because I know you aren't resourceful enough to uncover this information on your own, or imaginative enough to plot something this intricate."

His smile returned, though it was now just an angry baring of teeth. "You're asking too many questions, Lessa. You might not like the answers you get."

"I'm a big girl. Try me."

The two stared each other down, Analesse's gaze unflinching, and Reinrich's growing bored, until finally he sighed and threw up his arms. "It won't change a thing. As long as he's paying me, I'll do what he wants. How else can I get rich without lifting a damned finger?" He emitted a snort of a laugh. "Now who's unimaginative, Lessa? You're working your adorable butt off and only managing to dig yourself into a deeper financial pit. If you partner with me, you wouldn't have to do a thing." Dragging his teeth over his bottom lip ravenously, he added, "Except for spreading your legs whenever I'm in the mood."

Analesse ignored his tasteless remark to pry, "Who's paying you, Reinrich? Who is giving you the means to destroy me?" Whatever reply Reinrich offered, Analesse's mind failed to perceive it as her memory provided the answer for her in a sudden moment of enlightenment. Her difficulties on Tae'Karada were being orchestrated by the one man aside from Merrick who held the intimate knowledge being supplied to Reinrich, the same man who had threatened, verbatim, to destroy her. And he was succeeding. "That bastard," she whispered under her breath.

Further rebukes were swallowed by a strangled cry as Analesse was violently ripped from her thoughts by a very real, physical pull on her arm. Somehow, Reinrich was now pressed against her, both wrists ensnared in his hands, and using his full weight to push Analesse onto his desk. Panic and disorientation reigned while she fought to rationally assess her situation and react with something other than a desperate scream. With an office metres from the nearest person, and that person a jealous female who couldn't care less what befell Analesse, instinct suddenly seized hold and Analesse's body acted.

As Reinrich's assurances they could continue speaking after they'd finished were grunted free of his lips, Analesse's knee buried in his groin providing the hindrance to speech. The howl he vocalized was cut short with an upward thrust of Analesse's hand, the heel of which slammed into Reinrich's nose. He staggered back, one palm cupping his genitals and the other covering his face. Analesse rolled off the desk, relieved and as shocked as Reinrich appeared by what she'd done. Safely free of him, she watched from a distance while Reinrich limped to his chair and collapsed into it. He tipped his head back to staunch the flow of blood dripping from his nose. Reinrich Tas finally had nothing to say, but once Analesse recovered her ability to speak, she told him breathlessly, "I warned you, Rich. You brought this on yourself."

He groaned an incoherent response, which Analesse interpreted as a dismissal, and she was more than happy to oblige him. Finding her legs quaking and her body shivering as if hit by a sudden chill, Analesse made a hasty retreat, but in the doorway she paused to smile back at Reinrich acerbically. "By the way...the next time you contact my father, say hello."

And leaving Reinrich to nurse his injured nose and ego, Analesse rushed away.

"Getting More Information"
By Chun Li (currently Mya Hiashu) - PI, Escort Pilot
and Fenn Orok'Ki - Dirge's man on Commenor (NPC)

Location: Red Dragon Bar and Fenn's suite, Commenor
Date: Selene 22, 5 ABY

***

Li looked at herself in the mirror with a frown. It wasn't that she hadn't been wearing such things before, but that still didn't mean she liked it. Currently she was wearing only some very tight black shorts, something that could, with some imagination, be called a bikini top and some black boots coming just below the knee. Over it she would wear a long black leather coat or she might get arrested while going from the ship to the bar she had to be. With her hear done in two pigtails and some touches of make-up, she looked like she was not a day over 18, while in reality she was 28. Sometimes being petite had its advantages, specially if your target liked young girls.

The target, as she called the man, was a Bothan she had identified as Dirge's man on Commenor. Dirge wasn't on Commenor anymore, so much was clear, but he had left someone here to watch over his business. And that man had to know where Dirge was, or at least the next step to find the real target. Unfortunately the current target, a Bothan named Fenn Orok'Ki, was so paranoid she hadn't been able to find a way to approach him, with one exception. He liked young human and Twi'lek women, so she had decided to try that approach. In her opinion it was the only way she could get information quickly without having to wait for months before she got where she could get in one night. And from what she had heard about this Bothan, she might even enjoy herself.

She had identified Fenn from the files she had taken in the police station on Imperial Center. They didn't have anything against him at the moment, but he was identified as a subordinate of Dirge. It was also that way that she knew of his vices, as they were also documented there. So as soon as they had landed on Commenor, she had gone of the ship and in search for Fenn Orok'Ki. He hadn't been difficult to find, just all but impossible to approach, which is why she was going to try this one.

As she stepped into the Red Dragon Bar, which Fenn frequented most, she immediately saw that it might be more difficult then anticipated. More girls were there, looking for customers, and that meant she had competitors. Not that she really wanted to do this, but she had to, and that meant she had to try at least to show if she wanted to do it. Looking around she quickly while she opened her coat to show what she was wearing underneath, she saw that she had one big advantage, namely almost all the other girls were Caucasian, which meant that she would stand out. For what she had in mind it would be good.

She spotted Fenn and some other guys sitting in a separate booth and made sure she walked past him on her way to the bar, where she ordered a lomin ale. Better not go for something with too much alcohol, as she needed a clear mind. Luckily she didn't need to wait long before a guy came towards her. In fact, three more did, but they turned away when they saw this one guy, a large human with the confident look of a soldier.

"My master would like you to sit with us," he said to Li in a voice that clearly indicated this was not a suggestion. Li nodded, took her lomin ale and followed him. Her first reaction would normally have been to tell him where he could put his order, but she had to play the part of a young insecure woman. As they arrived at the boot where Fenn and a couple of his men or business associates sat, Fenn patted on the couch next to him. A little bit hesitant, Li sat down next to him and put her lomin ale in front of her. Now the game had really started.

"Don't you want something else then lomin ale, little one," Fenn asked, "something stronger maybe?"

"No thank you, sir," Li said while trying to make her voice sound a bit younger and a little frightened, not all of which was theatre, "more or stronger alcohol makes me sick in the stomach, sir."

"That we don't want of course," Fenn said with a laugh, "what's your name, little one?"

"Mya, sir," Li said. She had taken another identity card, as the Ivona ID was for a woman of 28, and she now portrayed someone much younger. So she had taken her Mya ID, which said she was only 18. She also had one she could use to play a 40 year old woman. The ID card was together with a vibroblade and some other things in a coat pocket.

"So Mya," Fenn asked as he put his left arm around his shoulder while smiling at his companions, "how old are you."

"18, sir," Li said while trying to suppress a shiver. As if he had read her mind, Fenn put his left hand on her breast and squeezed a bit. Now she did shiver.

"Don't worry, little one," Fenn said, "you're going to enjoy it."

He was more right then he thought as Li started to get a bit aroused by all this. Clearly it has been too long since I got laid, she thought as she pressed her breast against his hand.

"See," Fenn said to his companions, "they all like it."

They laughed and Fenn took a box that had been standing on the table and opened it. Inside was a gold and silver necklace with a large pendant. He put it around her neck.

"What do you think," he said.

"It's beautiful, sir," Li said. It was, and much worth much more then a prostitute made in one night, so she started to wonder what the catch was.

"There is however something I would like you to do for me," Fenn said.

"Of course, sir," Li said as she put her hand on his thigh and started rubbing it, moving closer to his crotch.

Fenn laughed, which sounded to Li a lot like barking, and opened his zipper. "You and I will get along very well I think," he said as he took out his semi-hard tool. Li wrapped her hand around it and started to jerk him off. She couldn't get her hand fully around it and despite everything she started to feel her own arousal grow. Fenn put his right hand on her head and pushed it down. Li understood what was expected from her, but she had to stay in her role.

"But sir," she said, "I can't do that in here."

"Nobody will see you," Fenn said, "and I need to finish my business here before we move to somewhere more private. Now get going."

"Yes sir," Li said before she took him in her mouth. While he kept fondling her breasts, he continued his business. Li learned some interesting things she could use to put pressure on him if it should become necessary while putting pressure on part of him. Clearly they didn't consider a prostitute a treat to their business. Well, these guys would learn differently the hard way.

While she was busy, she heard from his grunts that she was doing okay. While she wouldn't call herself a nympho, she had had her share of sexual exploits along the way, and during her time in intel, seduction as a way to get information was of course covered in classes. And she had some very good teachers or so it seemed. At least Fenn thought she had, had he known where she had learned all this. When he was about to come, he grabbed her head and pushed it deeper. Li had no other choice then to swallow his 'gift'.

Five minutes later business was concluded and Fenn left, together with Li. They got into a speeder and drove off, towards Fenn's apartment. Fenn drove himself, but he used one hand to fondle Li's breasts a bit more, now also going further down her shorts. Li spread her legs a bit to give him more access, which clearly showed the wet spot already appearing in her shorts. Quickly her top was undone, leaving her breasts bare. She started to moan softly as his fingers entered her.

"You quite like this, don't you, Mya," Fenn said as they arrived at their destination.

"Yes sir," Li said as she tried to cover herself up for the walk to his apartment.

"Leave it like that," Fenn said.

"Yes sir," Li said, getting out of the speeder while using her coat to provide some semblance of modesty.

They went up to the top floor, where Fenn had a large suite. "It's wonderful," Li said as they entered, "so big."

"It's nice, isn't it," Fenn said as he moved to another room, "come here, little one."

Li followed and entered the bedroom, where a king sized bed was standing in the middle of a large room. Fenn was sitting on the edge of it. Li dropped her coat and wearing nothing but her shorts, she approached the Bothan who was smiling.

***A couple of hours later***

Li was lying next to Fenn, her head on his chest. She was still half asleep, but the fur on his chest tickled her a bit. It had been wonderful, and although he was rather rough, he did consider her feelings, making her come so many times she lost count. She smiled and immediately made herself stop. She was here to get information about Dirge, and everything else was nice but not relevant. She had to be very careful, she thought, not to let him come too close. She had already done things she normally would never do. It had been her first time with a Bothan, and while the basics were the same, there were differences that made everything much more exotic. Like his fur, just to name one thing.

She got up, careful not to disturb Fenn, and entered the main living room. Now the Bothan was sleeping, it was time for her to try to get some information. Walking around the living room totally naked, she looked around for datapads, careful not to touch anything at the moment. She found some pads and after a quick look in the bedroom to see if Fenn was still sleeping, she took one and skimmed it over. Fishing in her coat she took out a small device which was just the memory core of a pad and a transfer cable. That way she could transfer the contents of another pad onto it without it being clearly a pad. The memory core also had some slicing software on it, to try and get past passwords.

She had copied three of the pads when she heard Fenn in the bedroom. "Mya," he called out. Li quickly put the device back in her coat.

"I'm here," she said, walking to the bedroom, "I was looking for the refresher."

"The door on your left," Fenn said as he looked at her. Li nodded and went that way, arriving in the largest non-communal refresher she had ever seen.

She had just finished when Fenn walked in, also still naked.

"Let's take a shower together," he said as he opened the door. The shower was big enough to fit 6 people. As soon as she entered, he embraced her again. It proved a bit more difficult, as she was much smaller then he was, but in the end they did manage, as Li was very flexible. When they got out of the shower and were toweling each other dry, Li thought it would be a good moment to start asking some questions.

"You must make a lot of money to be able to afford a place like this," she said as they went into the living room, still naked. For some reason Li didn't feel like wearing clothes at the moment. It wasn't as if she had a lot of clothes with her anyway.

"I do make some money," Fenn said while standing in front of the window looking out over the city. As the windows were tinted, nobody could see them. Li came standing next to him and leaned against him, while he put his arm around his shoulder.

"I would like to live in a place like this," she said, "it must be fun, being so rich that you can do whatever you want."

"I can't do whatever I want," Fenn said, "although I'm getting close. I still have a boss that often tells me what to do."

"You have a boss," Li asked, acting surprised, "I would have thought you were your own boss."

"Well," Fenn said, "I can do pretty much as I please on Commenor, as he's not here at the moment."

"He's also Bothan," Li asked, while she let her hands start to wander along his body to distract him from her questions.

"Of course," Fenn answered while his hands also started to roam over her body.

"Mmmm," Li said, "even if he's only half as good as you, maybe I should see him as well."

"I think old Dirge would like that," Fenn said, closing his eyes as Li's hands came near a particularly nice spot.

Li giggled, something that had taken her some time to learn back in her intel days, and took his hand into hers. She started pulling him towards the bedroom. First he resisted, but when he saw where she was pulling him, he simply scooped her up and carried her towards the bedroom.

***Again a couple of hours later***

Li had finished copying the pads onto hers. Fenn was still asleep, but Li had only slept a couple of hours as her mind was way too busy. It was now approaching dawn, and sitting still naked on one of the couches in the living room, she had a lot to think about. She didn't know why or what, but something had changed. At the beginning of the evening, Mya had just been a role she played, a young girl that needed so sell her body to earn some credits. Now she actually liked it, even though she knew for sure that she was going to be sore the next couple of days. Even the thought of going back into the bedroom and waking Fenn with a nice blowjob made her wet between her legs.

'Snap out of it, girl,' she thought to herself. This was definitely not going as planned. She had a lot of data, and she could always come back for more if needed. She didn't think it would be that much of a problem to get in here again. She looked up as she heard Fenn enter the room. He was carrying a couple of datapads, but wasn't wearing any clothes.

"You remember I asked if you could do something for me," Fenn asked.

"Yes," Li pouted, "and I think I did a very good job, don't you?"

"I'd like you to do something else for me," Fenn said, "these datapads have to be delivered to an associate on Bothawui. You can get them there for me."

"Why me, sir," Li said, now having trouble again to stay in her role. Those were pads she hadn't seen before, meaning that he had or a safe in the house, or just got them from somewhere else.

"These datapads contain some sensitive information," Fenn said, "you have no formal ties to my company, so nobody will think you carry these."

"Wouldn't it be dangerous," Li asked next.

"Not at all," Fenn said, stroking her hair, "like I said, nobody will know, except me, and I won't do anything to harm you."

"Well, okay then, I guess," Li said, "but I don't have enough money to get there and back."

He walked to his desk and took a cred chip. "Take this," he said, "it will be enough to get you to Bothawui and back, and also to buy you some clothes. While I liked what you were wearing last night, it's probably best that you wear something a bit more modest when traveling. Maybe you can do this more often in the future."

"You're giving me a job," Li said, still in her role, "oh thank you." She jumped into his arms and started to kiss him all over. He let her for a while, but then he disengaged himself.

"I'm sorry, Mya," he said, "but I still have a lot to do, and the sooner you're on Bothawui, the sooner you can be back."

"That's true," Li said, giving him one last kiss before getting dressed again, something that didn't take long. Ten minutes later she was walking out of Fenn's apartment, glad she still had her coat to give some idea of modesty. She still had to uphold the masquerade until she reached the spaceport, and from there she would see.

"Legitimate Businessmen"
By: Stasha Voriss - New Dawn Intelligence
Banin - Unknown

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 22, 5ABY

***

The dimly lit bar on the lower levels of Drogen had no name. It was well known to the dregs of the station as a haven, mostly because security only went down there in full battle gear and armed to the teeth, and there had better be a full riot in progress. The bar had served as a meeting place for the New Dawn since they had first taken over the soft white underbelly of crime on the station. Stasha Voriss, the agent in charge of all contacts in the area, was waiting patiently in one corner, a warm mug of some vile liquid left undrunk on the table in front of him. The cryptic message he had received had said to meet here at noon... they had one minute to go.

It was some 20 seconds later when he looked up at the sound of a chair on the other side of his table being pulled back, this being the first sound the person arriving had made on their approach. A tall black-robed figure, a cowl hung low over its head, hiding its face, dropped silently into the chair.

"Stasha Voriss?" it asked, in the androgynous electronic tones of someone obviously using some crude but effective voice scrambler.

"Yes," he replied simply in a bass rumble. Stasha's voice often surprised people because of his size. His thin frame, shallow face, and sad looking eyes often made people think that he was soft spoken. "Do you have a name, or at least something I should call you?"

"My name is not important, and nor is the rest of me. I am merely a representative, an implement of my master. If you must have a label to apply however, you may refer to me as Banin." The synthesised voice was eerily devoid of emotion.

"Banin then, that will work." The thin man leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table. He had found in his time as an intelligence agent that many cloak and vibrodagger types prefer this posture when dealing with unknowns. "Business. Why do you wish to contact New Dawn?"

The hooded figure leaned forward slightly, providing a glimpse of a chin that could have been human - or a dozen other species. "It has come to the attention of those I represent that the mighty New Dawn, or someone in it, is interested in...acquiring a man currently on this station known as Cirran Tyris," it said in its tinny tones. "While we don't know what this man has done to offend your organisation - and offend it he surely has, since it seems that some of the representatives coming after him in your name are hardly being gentle about it - the organisation I represent has a use for Tyris - alive.. We would like to arrange a deal with you whereby you hand the gentleman to us in that state after you have completed your own business with him."

Stasha rubbed the grizzled hair on his chin as he thought about this. While he knew what this Banin was talking about, everyone in the syndicate knew about Tyris, he also knew he didn't have the power to make that decision. "Listen, Banin. The word about Tyris came down from the Boss, and he's the guy who runs the syndicate. I can tell you right now, the Boss wants blood, and he wants it bad. I'm not sure what exactly this Tyris guy did either, but it really pissed a lot of people off, and from what I hear, cost a couple of them their lives too. Including his contact. I'll pass on your request to the guy who can get in contact with the guy who can make that call, but that's about the best I can give you there.

The figure opposite him gave an understanding nod. "I expected that that might be the case. We understand the difficulties Tyris has caused your organisation, and our offer for his life will be appropriately commensurate with the high desire of this 'Boss' of yours for his blood, I assure you. As time is of the essence in this matter, I can also assure you that there might well be a suitable reward for the person who may be able to expedite the progress of our negotiations." The unmistakable clink of old-fashioned credit chits was heard as Banin casually tossed a small but weighty-looking bag onto the table.

No sooner than the bag hit the table was it gone, though the large man leaning on the table hardly seemed to move. "I'll do whatever I can to speed the process along, of course, you have my word of honor."

The strange electronic noise that followed was probably the voice filter's interpretation of a derisive snort. "That was an amount worth considerably more than your thief's honour" the figure said, "and I expect that the change will be more than enough to buy me results." Robes flowed as the figure that called itself Banin stood, tossing as it did so another item onto the table - a commlink. "Contact me when you have some" it added, and then left as silently as it had arrived.

The insult was met with the fierce glare of a man who took it personally. When Banin had left, Stasha left the commlink on the table as though it were a poisonous snake. Another man would be along later to collect and analyze it. Nothing would be found, of course, these people were obviously professionals, but it was standard procedure. The credits had bought the contact agent's word of honor, but the insult had bought the former Imperial Intelligence officer's ire.

"Follow him," he sub-vocalized to his team through the tiny mic installed in the fake throat skin.

The cloaked figure could be seen making its way swiftly towards the turbolifts that would take it to upper areas of the station. Forcing its way through the dense crowd, it finally made it into a packed lift, jumping in just ahead of the closing doors. Those following it, however, were not to be so easily dissuaded.

"Lift 42," a simple command was spoken into a scrambled radio circuit. Two men stopped just outside the lift instantly blended in with the crowd. A spy on every floor would take holos of every person that left the lift from now until they were told otherwise. It pays of when most of your spies are droids of various make. The holos would then be distributed automatically to the datapads the many agents stationed around the shipyards carried with them at all times.

The cloaked figure emerged with the throng in the elevator at a busy mid level deck, seemingly unaware of the eyes now following its every move. These eyes followed it as it headed through a busy shopping area, and then turned into a narrow and deserted dead end in the arcade, in which the shop spaces were currently unused, the lack of foot traffic that the cul-de-sac saw probably being the reason why. The figure came to a halt in front of what had most recently been a gift shop, and stopped as if looking inside. Seemingly gazing with endless fascination into an empty shop window, it stood there for several motionless minutes. And then several more.

A figure in a tight skinsuit detached itself from the shadows of the wall high above the shop. It had been watching its target now for almost a half hour, without the target even moving. The command had been given to investigate closer. A rock thrown at the transparisteel window clattered loudly in the cul-de-sac, this would test their target's reactions. The agent in charge had some suspicions about Banin, and this was one of those ways of testing it.

The silent figure however did not so much as turn its head at the sudden bang, even as one or two patrons of the arcade passing by the entrance to the cul-de-sac glanced curiously down it at the noise on their way past. The being in the cloak then, who was only a couple of metres away, could hardly have failed to notice the clamour, but it remained entirely immobile. It was if it had been turned to stone.

Again the agent moved closer, finally ending up behind the cloaked figure. No movement, no twitching, not even breathing. It was if... "I think it's a droid," the agent subvocalized.

"Check," came the reply.

A steady hand reached out to lift up an end of the cloak...

A solid tug and the cloak fell away to reveal a bipedal droid of exotic manufacture - still very clearly still a mechanical creation, but with a design that adhered more closely to organic principles than was usual, which presumably allowed the droid to move in a manner considerably more similar to organic life forms than was normal for an average protocol or war droid. A reasonable facsimile of a human face, little more than a clever stage prop, had been attached to the droid's head, which in combination with the heavy cowl and its silent, fluidic movement, had allowed it to pass as a living creature even from reasonably close up.

A second or two passed, and then the droid suddenly swivelled its head to face the New Dawn agent, the natural movement and not-quite-real-face superimposed on a mechanical body being somehow unnerving. It spoke in the mechanical voice Stasha had heard in the bar, this time seemingly a recording.

"I see you have uncovered our little deception" it said. "Forgive me, but I considered this a necessary precaution, much as I imagine you considered following this agent of mine a necessary precaution - it would be, after all, only prudent to do so. Unfortunately, at this stage of any negotiations between our two organisations, we must insist on anonymity. However, you have the means to contact us in the commlink when you wish to talk further. I offer you ownership of this droid as an additional token of our goodwill - and in further expectation of a swift result. As you have seen, it is of an unusual and excellent design, and its advanced biomechanics make for an excellent combat model...you will have to reprogram it however, since it by this stage it has self-reset all functions, conducted a memory core wipe, and has all but completed its sole remaining function by playing this recording, which ends...now."

The droid fell silent. A faint whirring sound could be heard from its insides, but this quickly stopped, and it remained frozen in place.

"Stick a restraining bolt on it and take it to the whitecoats on Tigris. They'll decide what to do with it from there."

The agent agreed and four more men appeared to swarm the droid. Within seconds the only thing that remained was a cloak on the ground.

"Simple Choices"
By: Merrick Braston
Analesse D'vrishay
Zale Tregat
Kaysa Zenarr-Tregat

Location: White Noise - Yelldon, New Plouton
Date: Selene 22, 5 ABY

***

Despite not having played a show in months, Merrick could be found rehearsing at the White Noise at least once a week, even if the stage was in slight disrepair. Inspectors had been gracing them with surprise visits for months now, pointing out the most trivial of building violations to delay the project's completion. Even now they were at a standstill, until Felicita could work her magic. Analesse suspected, however, that their struggles were only beginning once Reinrich could stand again without cradling his groin.

Still in disbelief over her previously unrealized fighting prowess, Analesse was oblivious to Merrick's a cappella treatment of 'Ravishing In Scarlet', but found herself standing in front of the stage absently watching Merrick as he smiled down at her. It was only after his third summons did Analesse process her name being uttered. She blinked slowly, taking a moment to divert her focus from the incident with Reinrich, and acknowledge Merrick. "Missing the stage, were you?"

"Not as much as I was missing you," he said with a dashing smile. "I figured it was time for a rehearsal. We will eventually open this place again, and need to be ready. Our guests won't want me croaking my way through 'Lonely Out of Your Arms.'"

Her smile was weak and a pathetic attempt at most. Analesse decided it was far simpler to fess up than to conceal anything from Merrick. She doubted he would be easily fooled. "I've seen Reinrich today. It...didn't go well."

Merrick was quiet for a moment as he watched her. "Take ten, guys," he said to the band, then hopped off the stage. "Let's go talk in my dressing room where I can get you the drink you look like you need."

Nodding, Analesse leaned into Merrick's half-embrace as he slid his arm around her shoulders. His band chatted amiably in the background while she whispered, "I should have told you where I was going. But I needed to do this, to resolve things."

"You should have," he said. "I can't imagine being near that man is safe, especially with how he feels toward me, and toward you." He turned them toward the dressing rooms and led her as they spoke quietly. "So, are they resolved now? Or is he still the obstinate boor who will taunt our lives?"

An unexpected chuckled bubbled in Analesse's throat. "I think I've made things even worse.... Though it's partly your fault," she told Merrick, adding in response to his quizzical frown, "you're the one who insisted on teaching me those self-defense techniques. I-I couldn't help putting them to use. It...it just happened."

Merrick laughed. "Well, as long as you had a legitimate reason for using it," he said. "Though, I can't imagine a more legitimate excuse than him just being himself."

"You're not angry," she observed, rather than asked.

"Disappointed and a little angry," he said, then shrugged. "I wish you'd talked to me first, but what's done is done." He opened his dressing room door and allowed her to enter first. Once inside, he began pouring them drinks. "Besides, you know I can't stay upset with you. And, it's more out of what could have happened if things hadn't gone well. I don't know how desperate the man is, but he certainly has the resources to make our lives miserable. I don't think I could bear having something happen to you." He handed her a drink with a smile. "But I'm glad you're back safe and whole."

Her fingers brushed over his as she accepted the glass. "It won't happen again," she whispered. "At any rate...I've found some things out, but I can't yet decide if it makes our situation worse, or better." Analesse sighed and dropped her gaze to the blue-tinged liquid filling her glass. "My...father is in league with Reinrich on this campaign to make my life miserable. He's the one who's been feeding Rich information about me. It's why he knows things he shouldn't."

"I guess that means it's safe to surmise that your relationship with your father isn't a good one," he said. "I guess my question would be is there a way for us to turn this around on them? And do you know what his ultimate goal is? It seems like a lot of effort for what appears to amount to little more than an annoyance."

"You don't understand...he's trying to discredit me." She sank into the nearest chair and cradled her drink in both palms as she hunched over it. "My father despises me - hates that I struck out on my own instead of staying under his thumb back on my homeworld, where I had no chance of surpassing his success. I imagine he thinks directing Reinrich to pester us will wear on me, until I just give up." Her smile was tight and bitter. "He can't stand to see me happy. That's why Reinrich was taunting you at the party. And it's also why he wants to take the White Noise from me."

"Reinrich may end up learning very soon that he's in over his head," Merrick said. "And I'm going to pass on word of Reinrich's intentions to Zale. If he finds out that the bastard's trying to wheedle in on a project he's invested in, it'll tie his braids in a knot. Which leaves us...I guess figuring out how we approach this. Do you think he stands a chance of getting any of this to stick in the public mind and turn the public against us?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "My father will give Reinrich whatever he needs to see he does succeed, and he won't back off, no matter what I do."

He reached out and took one of her hands. "We'll figure a way through this and we'll come out on top," he said. "Do you have an idea if they have a next move? Or did you warn Reinrich off enough for now?"

"I think," she answered with a gentle laugh, "I broke his nose. I hope that was enough warning. Otherwise...I don't know. All I do know is that the end product he's hoping for is my complete and utter downfall."

"I don't want to sink to their level, but I don't think we should just let them do what they want," Merrick said. "I'm not sure what we should do, but I think Zale and Moril may have some ideas, unless you have an idea of what you'd like to do."

Weary and preoccupied with all the troubles mounting, Analesse shook her head. "I'd just like to forget this entire day. You think you can help with that?"

"I think I can," he said as he positioned him to be able to massage the tension from her shoulders. "I'll let the guys go home, and we'll do the same. How does that sound?"

"It sounds...promising." She was smoothing her hand over his and craning her neck back to receive a light kiss, but a knock on Merrick's door managed to interject. "Looks like your presence is required elsewhere. Just remember to tell them I've got you for the rest of the evening."

"I'll be right back," he said, then got up and went over to the door. When he pulled the door open, he stepped back. "Zale," he said, though his gaze wasn't on his friend, but the woman standing at his side. "Kaysa. I hadn't expected... I wasn't... I was rehearsing, and...and Analesse is here."

"Sorry for dropping by unannounced," Zale said. "We figured when you didn't pick up your comm at home, you'd be here."

"Yeah," Merrick answered. "Rehearsing. Kaysa, I'm so glad you're back safe."

Obviously having benefited from a night in her own bed and a warm shower, Kaysa smiled in the face of Merrick's sentiment. Although still uncommonly thin, the radiance of her smile returned some of the beauty to her sunken features. She was nearly the same old Kaysa. "So, this is where you've been hiding yourself," she quipped. Glancing inside his dressing room to note the changes, her eyes met Analesse's and paused there, though Analesse quickly looked away. Kaysa suppressed her grief and shifted her gaze to Merrick. "We just wanted to visit. If you're busy, maybe we can arrange a better time..."

"It's been a rough day so far," he said. "But a short visit is alright, I think."

"If you want privacy, I do have a few things I'd like to talk to Analesse about for the project. I think I have a few ideas on how to solve the inspection dilemma."

Kaysa watched Merrick expectantly. "I'd like to speak to you alone, if you're not opposed...."

"Of course," Merrick said. "Zale, why don't you talk with Analesse here, and Kaysa and I will go to the office just down the hall?"

"Sure," Zale said. He leaned in and gave Kaysa a tender kiss. "I'll see you soon."

"Hopefully not too soon," she replied, glancing Merrick's way. "I promise to be good."

Analesse was now apprehensively approaching the trio, uncertainty and a trace of fear in her aspect. "Merrick?" she questioned softly.

"Kaysa and I need to talk," he said as he placed his hands on her waist and focused his gaze fully on her. "We're going to use the office down the hall. Zale has some things about the project here he wants to talk to you about. Then we'll go. I've got a demo of the new recordings for us to listen to."

Her eyes furtively watched Kaysa sidelong, trying to discern what her scheme was this time. "That sounds nice," she murmured. "Just...don't be too long, okay?"

"I won't," he said. "Zale said he has an idea about the inspector situation. Hopefully we can make some progress soon."

She smiled wanly. "Yeah..." Too awkward in the situation to offer Merrick a departing kiss, she stepped back. A nod to Kaysa, and Analesse gestured Zale to follow as she proceeded towards the lounge within the room.

Zale followed Analesse back toward the couch in Merrick's dressing room, and Merrick started down the hall toward the office. The door was open, thankfully left that way whenever the building was occupied, and he led the way inside. Uncertain what to say, what he could say, he just turned back to regard Kaysa once he was in the room.

Unanticipated, Kaysa chuckled softly, instead of expressing disconcertion over having found him with Analesse. She took his hand, hers slender and frail, and led him towards the small sofa resting against the nearest wall. As they sat, she said, "You've grown shy since we last saw one another. Or, is it that you still hate me?"

"It's not exactly what I would call a comfortable situation," Merrick said. "I haven't forgotten the last time we saw one another, or what happened then."

"I know," she whispered. "I was...a mess, Merrick, and I wish none of that had happened. Will 'sorry' help at least a little?"

"A little," Merrick said. "I would like to be able to be friends again, Kaysa, but I don't know if I could go back to being lovers. You hurt me, very badly, and those are scars I don't think will ever heal."

"I know what you mean," she replied soberly, her stare becoming distant and haunted. Her grip on his hand tightened until her own quaked. "I've learned my lesson, believe me, Merrick. I know I hurt you, and I'm not going to trivialize that by expecting a simple apology to suffice...but I still love you." Her rosy lips curved into an ardent smile as she gazed down at the gold band around her finger. "I'll never take it off, not as long as I still breathe. You'll always be my husband, my heart....that doesn't just go away." She watched him pointedly and leaned in closer, their breath now mingling. "Tell me it doesn't, Merrick," Kaysa whispered. "Tell me you don't just...stop loving someone. If you can honestly say you don't feel that way for me anymore, then I'll...I'll leave you alone. But if you can't...."

"There's a part of me that will always love you, Kaysa," Merrick said. "But I've moved on, and I can't go back. I'm with Analesse now, and I'm very happy with her. What we had, when it was good, will always be a special time for me. But, I've made commitments to her, and I won't go back on them. I can't hurt her the way you hurt me, Kaysa. I would like to be your friend, but that's all I can give. I'm sorry."

"Does she love you?" Kaysa pressed on. "Does she love you as much as I do and always will?"

Merrick sighed. "She doesn't express herself the way you do, Kaysa," he said. "She holds her emotions close, and believes in the power of actions over words. She's given me no reason to doubt that she does love me. We're very happy as a couple, and for now, that's good enough for both of us."

"I'm not trying to pressure you into anything," she assured him softly. "I just don't want to let you go. The mistakes I made...I'm not going to make excuses, but I wasn't myself. Zale and I, we're working through those issues, but know that I loved you through it all, no matter how I behaved outwardly. We've shared so much, Merrick; don't you ever think about those things? About our wedding on Bespin...or the day we named Aria?" Her eyes filled with tears of joy over the memories, though they expressed sorrow equally. "I can't stop trying. I can't...."

"I do think about them," Merrick said. "Those are the good memories. Those are the ones I cherish, but I can't forget the other memories. I don't know if we can still be friends. I know Keeve has no intention of being my friend."

"He's just being stubborn," she assured him. "But...our friendship? If you won't love me, you don't want to be in my life?"

"I want to be your friend, Kaysa," Merrick said. "I would like to be a part of your life, and Zale and Aria's too. But, I can only do that if you're able to cope with my friendship."

Kaysa's eyes searched his, her face still looming close. "You don't feel anything for me?" she whispered. "It just...went away like it never happened? I can't...I can't forget what we shared, Merrick. I've missed it, and I always will. Why can't you...."

"I feel a lot, Kaysa," Merrick said. "I feel a lot of love, a lot of hurt, and a lot of other things in between. It didn't just go away, but it's not as strong as it was. I do still care for you, very much. But, when you turned away from me, I moved on. I'm happy with Analesse, happier than we had been together in a long time. I do still care for you, but I can't hurt her like that. I can't. As much as a part of me may want to, I can't. I have too much with her now." He paused for a moment. "How are you and Zale doing?"

"Fine," she answered uncertainly. "Why? What does it have to do with us? Does that change things?"

"Because he's your husband also, and I wanted to make sure things were at least alright between you," Merrick said. "I do still care about you, Kaysa, and that means caring that things outside of you and me are okay as well."

She sighed, losing heart in her efforts to draw Merrick back into her life. Her cause was appearing hopeless. "Look...I know this is a big decision, and I don't expect you to decide right now. Will you at least have lunch with me? We can just...talk about anything. I just need to be with you some way, Merrick."

"I think lunch will be alright," he said with a smile. "With the renovation here, my schedule is fairly open."

She squeezed his hand, her smile optimistic. "Tomorrow? Nothing too fancy but...just like old times."

He smiled and nodded. "How about that sidewalk caf� down near Keeve and Kim's place?"

"Okay. I'll meet you there? Or would you like to drop by the house and see Aria first?"

"Sure," Merrick said. "I'll stop by, visit with Aria, and then we can go on for some lunch."

She nodded eagerly and closed the distance between them to kiss him lightly.

"Thank you," she whispered. "All I can ask for is a chance, even if I don't deserve it."

Merrick nodded. "Of course," he said. "I don't know what the future holds for us, but at least we can hope for friendship. I'm glad to see that you're well, Kaysa. You're so thin though. I think you should make Zale take you to The Needle tonight. They've got some of the best food in the city, that's for sure."

Shaking her head briskly, Kaysa admitted, "I'm not ready for all that attention just yet. It was...horrible, Merrick. I brought it all on myself, but it was still far worse than anyone could imagine."

"I believe it," he said. "And, I'm sorry to hear about Cadwin. He wasn't my favourite person, but he didn't deserve that."

"No, he didn't," she murmured solemnly. "That...that was my fault. I only wish he were here, so I could make it up to him." Sighing thickly, Kaysa shook her head in apology and quickly rose from the sofa. "That's my cue to leave. I-I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you for at least speaking with me."

"Of course," Merrick said as he stood. "It was nice seeing you, Kaysa. I'll see you tomorrow."

She smiled, trying to muster enough cheerfulness to fool Merrick. Mouthing a goodbye, Kaysa pressed her fingertips to her mouth in a mimed kiss. Then, she hurried from the room, not certain she could maintain her composure for much longer.

With a sigh, Merrick left the office and returned to his dressing room. He hoped that, in time, the situation would improve. Perhaps at lunch tomorrow, he and Kaysa would be able to have a pleasant, comfortable time together. As long as she doesn't push, he thought.

When he reached the dressing room, Analesse looked up first, her smile hesitant. "We were just finishing up...."

The smile he gave her spoke volumes and he nodded. "Kaysa's already headed out," he said to Zale.

"Alright," Zale said. "I'll head out and catch up to her." He turned back to Analesse. "We'll have a meeting later this week, if you'd like. I'll have Moril draw up the plans, and we'll see what we can do about those pesky inspectors. Sound good?"

"Yes, thank you." She shook Zale's hand, relieved by his offer of assistance. "That should make things a lot easier."

"I'll see you soon," he said as he shook Merrick's hand. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know." With an amiable grin, he headed for the door, leaving Merrick and Analesse alone.

"I missed you," he said as he sat down next to her. "You about ready to head home?"

"Does this mean you and Kaysa...?"

"I'd like to be a friend to her if she'll have me as that," Merrick said. "But you're the only woman I want to be with."

Her sigh was decidedly relieved, though the fervent embrace she trapped Merrick in expressed her happiness more volubly. "I thought that maybe you'd... I mean, you've shared yourself with more than one lover before...."

"Only with the consent of everyone involved," Merrick said. "Besides, I particularly like how uncomplicated it is being able to focus all my attention on just one woman and have her just focused on me."

"And I'd prefer not to share you," she replied with a silken caress to his cheek. "She accepts your decision? She won't interfere?"

"She'll probably try to win me back," Merrick said. "But, every time she tries, I'll make it clear to her I'm very happy with how things are. I love you, and don't intend to leave you. Especially not to go back into a relationship that was so filled with trouble."

"I guess, then," she mused, "Zale likes trouble. He's staying with her, isn't he?"

"He is," Merrick said. "They do love each other, and they have Aria. I'm hoping that perhaps she can help bring them closer together, and closer to happiness. We'll see though."

Analesse cocked a skeptical eyebrow at Merrick. "She hasn't changed, has she? This experience...it hasn't affected her at all."

"It has," Merrick said. "I think it did have a profound effect, but I don't know if the lessons she's learned will keep her from making the same mistakes over again. I hope she doesn't...I hope she does find happiness and is able to live a life filled with some normalcy. It's too early to tell yet though."

She shifted closer to Merrick, her lips brushing his cheek. "That's Zale's problem now. Let's go home. We have our own things to discuss." From her enticing, half-lidded gaze, Merrick suspected their discussion would require little talking.

"Sounds perfect," Merrick whispered.

As they left the White Noise, they left behind the cares of Kaysa's troubles and how Zale and Kaysa's relationship would survive. For now, it was time to focus on their own relationship, and there was definitely no room for anyone other than Analesse and Merrick.

"Subterfuge, Part 1"
by: Adam Edwards
Cailin Fawkes
DB-7(NPC+)
Colonel Murphy(NPC)
Shug Nix(NPC)

Location: Hyperspace and Nar Shaddaa
Date: Selene 22, 5 ABY

***

The Elusive was traveling through hyperspace. The streaks of stars filled the cockpit viewport, as the speedy ship made it's way ever closer to Nar Shaddaa. Colonel Murphy was below, having told Adam he was going to break open some of the Elusive's weapon stores and see what they could take with them.

DB was...well...Adam didn't know, doing whatever droids do in their spare time. Adam sat in the pilots chair, Cailin in the co-pilots seat. After making sure nothing was wrong, Adam leaned back, and swiveled in his chair to Cailin.

"You know," he started, "I was kinda interested. We've known each other for awhile now, and it occurs to me that I don't know much about you before you started working for me."

Cailin grinned and glanced to the side to regard him. "There's really not a whole lot to know," she said. "I don't even remember my parents, but I vaguely remember any of the Jedi from the Temple. Just before everything...exploded, I was taken away from the Temple. Master Finus was going to be meeting with someone, somewhere. I was too young to know really. It was about three days before everything went bad.

"We got the transmission from the Temple before we reached the Coruscant system, and turned away. I think I was around ten years old when Vader tracked him down. Master Finus knew he was coming, and had me hide. I barely managed to escape, but Master Finus was killed by Vader." She shrugged. "I sort of survived however I could from that point on. I'm just glad my days of stealing food from vendor stalls and eating what I could find out of waste bins are over. I'm just glad I never got so desperate I had to sell my body for money. Once I was around sixteen or so, I was able to get mercenary jobs, and that got me by."

"I never knew anyone who was that close to the action during the Jedi Purge, even if you don't remember most of it," Adam said. "I certainly know how it feels to be on the run, even though I never had a whole Empire out there looking to kill me."

Pressing one of the blinking buttons on his console, Adam asked his question. "Did you ever think about seeking out other force users?"

"Thought about it," Cailin said with a shrug. "I figure if I did though, they'd probably want to keep me there and then whatever freedom I have now would be gone. Besides, I couldn't do that as long as I'm in your employ."

Adam grimaced. "I wish you would not use the word employ. You're my friend, Cailin, and I hope the credits aren't the only reason you stick around."

She laughed. "Of course not," she said. "While ours is a very strange relationship, we still have a relationship of some sort, and I wouldn't want to leave. Besides, I'm not ready to go spend too much time back on Tae'Karada yet. Too many bad memories."

"Isn't that the truth," Adam agreed. "But now it seems like trouble seems to come looking for us off planet as well. I'm not sure what I expect us to run into on Nar Shaddaa, but it can't be good if events so far are any indication." He paused. "It gives me a bad feeling."

"At least this problem isn't Dani and Nieme," Cailin said. "I don't think anything could compare to them. So, do you have any idea who it is that's behind all this? Who would send someone after you like that?"

That had been troubling Adam as well. "I really have no idea. I mean, everyone in this profession had a few people who might not wish my success, but no one that really sticks out."

"They'd have to be extremely resourceful, cause Maldorish isn't exactly on a lot of star charts, and mot of our smuggling contracts are done by our agents working out of Drogen and Thanatos, so it's not like the base's location is known by a whole lot of people".

"We'll find out on Nar Shaddaa, I suppose," Adam said. "I've been there plenty before, though it's still not a place I like to visit often. I do have some friends in the Corellian sector, and so we can lay low while we're looking for whoever wants us dead."

"That sounds good," Cailin said with a nod. "Probably best not to go back to the base now, at least until we figure out who's calling the shots out there. We taking the whole crew in? Or just me, you and DB?"

Checking his chrono, Adam considered the time they had left. "We'll still have over a day before the meeting when we get there. Murphy can stay with the ship, and us and DB can find a place to stay near the meeting point until it's time."

"We should be coming out of hyperspace in another hour. You can get some rest if you want. I know where to park this thing," Adam told her.

***

Nar Shaddaa. A important part of Hutt Space for as long as anyone could remember, it orbited Nal Hutta, and was a focal point for criminal activity. It had been described as a "Dark Coruscant", which made sense, it did look like a darker, rundown version of the galaxies capital.

A ship like the Elusive could get lost in a place like this. The canyons of Nar Shaddaa's cities were always filled with speeders, freighters, and ships of every kind. Adam had been there before. And he was looking for a particular holographic sign.

Locating it, Edwards maneuvered the Elusive around, to find the cleverly hidden tunnel behind it, that had been aptly named "The Chute." It led deep beneath Nar Shaddaa's busy exterior, to a facility known as the Spacebarn, run by Shug Ninx.

It was a tight fit, but Adam led the Elusive through, where it opened up into a large hanger. Adam could see numerous other vessels, some of similar design, being modified and adjusted by Shug's staff.

With the ramp lowered, Adam led Cailin and DB down to the hanger. Shug stood at the bottom. Shug, a near human, and been operating the Spacebarn since who knows when. He was smiling.

"Adam, your parents wonder why you don't call them anymore," Shug said, a warm smile on his face.

Clasping his hand, Adam couldn't help but smile back. "I do need to get back home sometime. Shug, this is Cailin and DB, I don't believe you've met either of them."

Cailin nodded. "Nice to meet you," she said.

"I was wondering, I'm doing a little of business here for a few days, and I was wondering if you could give me a place to park my ship and help me find a place to stay," Adam asked.

Shug smiled, and motioned towards the nearest exit. "Never get too old to ask for help. Come on, and we'll see what we can do."

***

It wasn't five star, but it would do. The apartment on the edge of the Corellian sector overlooked a warehouse district, one of which was one of the warehouses that they would hopefully find out whoever had sent the intruders to Maldorish.

Adam had thanked Shug for the quarters he had provided, at no cost. The complex was run by another of Shug's friends, so he wouldn't be asking any questions.

The apartment also came with a good view, so after they were done moving in, which had taken all of five minutes, Adam moved to the window and looked down on the warehouse district, scanning for their particular rendezvous with his macrobinoculars.

He found it. It was simply another warehouse blending in with the others, but Adam knew it was where they would hopefully find out who was trying to kill him. They would head out later tonight, but Adam wanted more information before they decided to show their hand. He turned to Cailin. "I want you and DB to scout out the surrounding area. See if whoever we're gonna barge in on tonight has guards or lookouts. Just keep out of sight, and don't take any risks. I want you both back in two hours."

"Two hours," Cailin said with a nod. "I'll be back. Come on, DB. Let's go do some sightseeing of the surreptitious sort."

"Not Your Average Padawan, Part 2"
by: Lani Vissip - Padawan
Various NPCs

Location: Jedi Temple
Date: Selene 22nd, 5ABY

***

Two more black clad bodies hit the floor of the Jedi Temple, a thin dagger in each of their throats. Lani ran by at full speed, ducking slightly to pluck the blades out. The second pair of palace soldiers opened fire as soon as the saw the woman in the Padawan robes take down their friends. Red blaster bolts splattered the stone around her as she rolled to one side, coming up with an underhand throw that launched the Echani dueling dagger through the visor of one of the men. The second lost his nerve and turned to ran but fell with the second dagger buried in his spine.

It had only been a day since the Palace troops had invaded the Jedi Temple, driving Master and Padawan alike to flee. Only Lani had been left behind. She had been far from the Temple at the time of the attack. But she had sworn that she would not let the soldiers who had invaded her new home get away with anything and the many bodies the dotted the halls of the ancient structure gave a silent testament to her dedication. Since the attack Lani had not slept, moving from fight to fight and drinking in the thrill of battle, using adrenaline to keep moving.

Those soldiers who were not clones now refused to enter the Temple at all. Three times that day Lani had rolled the heads of those she had killed out of the front entrance, it was a scare tactic that worked.

Now she ran, looking for a place where she could rest here weary body for just a few moments, to recuperate her strength until the next time she had to fight. The clone troops were everywhere and several times Lani was forced to skirt around a large group of them. The ones that came in singles and pairs usually died without even knowing what had hit them.

Finally, in one of the back meditation chambers, Lani found the rest she so desperately needed. A large shelf above the door that once held a statue was just the right size for the tall woman to curl up in. Sleep came fitfully but the brief hours rejuvenated her to the maximum.

"Echo five to Echo three."

A single soldier stood just below where she was laying.

"I'm going to take a break."

It was one of the regulars, not one of the clones. The lack of screams coming from inside the Temple must have bolstered their courage. Lani heard a zipper then the sound of liquid splashing onto the cushions of the meditation chamber. Her face grew hot with rage she slid behind the unsuspecting soldier. Nobody defiled her home, and this one would pay for it.

The soldier wasn't paying attention to what he was doing and was whistling a tune as Lani brought her wickedly sharp daggers around, one high and one low. A flash of movement and both the man's screams, and his manhood, were severed. Lani smiled wickedly, her knives dripping gore, until the sound of a blaster charging froze her.

"Don't move," came a voice trembling with fear behind her. The blades dropped to the ground. Thinking his opponent harmless now without visible weapons, the soldier made his mistake. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

Lani's elbow shot backwards with enough force to shatter the visor of the palace trooper's helmet, sending sharp shards of plastic into his eyes. He screamed in pain while the young woman he thought he was about to capture snapped his wrist in three places before throwing him facedown next to his friend.

The scream would bring attention. She scooped of her daggers and ran down the corridor. Wide windows let in the evening twilight which flashed off of the faceplates of the clone troopers that rounded the corner and began spitting red death with their blaster rifles. Not seeing any other avenue of escape, Lani jumped and kickflipped off the wall out the window. She fell two stories and landed on the grass of the Temple grounds with a roll.

To late, she realized her mistake and she saw the ring of palace troops around her, each one of them pointing a weapon in her direction.

"To late to say I'm sorry?" she said with a smirk as she stood up. The Force tingled in the back of her mind. Without thinking Lani leapt up and over the heads of the soldiers as they shot the area she had just vacated. If these were ordinary soldiers, they might have paused for a moment, trying to figure where she might have gone. But these were the clones Dargus Kandran had made, and they knew their business.

Lani, of course, knew hers as well as she sprinted for cover. Around the corner of one of the Temple came an unarmored officer wielding only a blaster pistol. He had come to see what the commotion outside was, having heard that the resistance from several leftover Jedi was still inside. He barely had time to register the knife that tore out his throat in a spray of blood. His killer spun the dagger into her boot sheath and snatched the fallen officer's pistol.

Most people would take a pistol into a blaster rifle fight, but the highly trained and very deadly redhead wasn't most people. She had been trained at game hunting with a sporting pistol long before she made up her mind to join the Imperial Academy. CompForce and later Rebel SpecFor had only honed that skill to perfection.

Lani sprinted between cover, using trees, flowerboxes, and even diving behind bodies as she snapped off shot after shot and the ever closing palace soldiers. Many of her shots simply splattered against the armor the troopers wore but a good number of the clones still fell to a blaster bolt to the neck. Fatigue had begun to take it's toll on the padawan again, the brief rest not having the effect she had hoped for. Staying would only spell her death. Surviving combat would mean that she would live to fight another day.

The blaster pistol got tucked into the her belt as Lani ran for the forest's edge. Blaster bolts slammed into the earth and trees all around her. The Force came to her aid, giving her a warning tingle every time a bolt was about to get too close, causing her to throw herself in the opposite direction.

Bolts came less and less until finally they stopped altogether. But still she ran, not knowing the direction and not knowing how long. She finally dropped to her knees, her body unable to carry her any further, breathing heavily. Tonight she would sleep out here, in the wilderness. Tomorrow she would return to the Temple to again enact justice. Perhaps next time she would not have to run.

"Complications"
by Vincenzo Lapenta - Neurosurgeon
Jean Van Der Morken - Patient (NPC)

Location: New Plouton Institute of Neuroscience
Date: Selene 22, 5 ABY

***

Vincenzo was looking over the results of the blood tests he had ordered for his first patient here. They confirmed what he thought it was. At two, his secretary announced that the patient had arrived and Vincenzo told her to bring him in.

"Please have a seat," Vincenzo said.

"So, what is it, doctor," the patient asked as he sat down.

"It's as I expected," Vincenzo said, "you have myelin sheath degeneration around your ulnar nerve and in a couple of small areas in the brain, caused by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine."

"1-methyl-what," Jean asked.

"A compound often used in pesticides," Vincenzo said, "normally it should be disposed of in a controlled way, but in this case that clearly didn't happen. The good news is that this is a well known compound and the damage should be easy to fix. It will require about 4 months of regular therapy, but the therapy is very straightforward and it will give you back 95 to 99% of your previous motor function."

"Not 100%," Jean asked after a moment of thought.

"Unfortunately no," Vincenzo said, "the damage is already too extensive for that. It's specially the damage in the brain that will prevent you getting full motor function. The arm alone is no problem."

"What is the treatment exactly," Jean asked next.

"Local injections with a myelin regeneration product," Vincenzo said, "it's a compound called hydroxyzinedihemitartrate mixed with some bacta. This will stimulate your nervous system to make new myelin sheaths."

"What do those myelin thingies do actually," Jean asked.

"The nerve systems acts like an electric wire," Vincenzo explained, cursing himself for not doing sooner, "as you might know, around electric wires is isolation to prevent them from short circuiting. The myelin sheath does the same thing with the nerves. If it disappears for some reason, your nerves get signals from neighbours they shouldn't receive and they go crazy. After a while, they will shut down. With the isolation restored, they will work again as normal."

"Why does it take so long," was the patient's next question.

"That's because nerve cells simply don't grow all that fast," Vincenzo replied, "in fact, some don't grow at all once a certain age has been reached. And on top we will can only use small amounts of the product at one time. It will cause much pain if we use too much, but don't worry, I've done this many times before."

Jean seemed to have been reassured. "When can we start treatment?"

"I'll check," Vincenzo said, "the next shipment of tartrate is coming in tomorrow. Another two days to get it mixed up correctly and then we can start. After that it's three times a week for 2 months and once a week for another 2 months. It will take four hours each time."

"That long," Jean said.

"Unfortunately yes," Vincenzo said, "it's necessary to do it this way."

"Ah, okay," Jean said. They made a series of appointments and after the patient had gone, Vincenzo made a small report to Sarah.

"A Change for the Better"
By Kylen Muston, Tech and Smuggler
Tasia Harough (NPC+)

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: 22 Selene, 5 ABY

***

Kylen finished up the last few twists on the bolt and decided it was time to call it a day. Well, at least a half-day, which was what he had been scheduled for today. He wriggled out of the cramped space beneath the engine and stood up. With just a quick stretch, he cleared out all the tension built up from spending the last hour and a half on his back. "It's a good thing I'm still young, I wouldn't want to be doing this in 20 years," Kylen thought as he put his tools away and headed to the office to sign out.

His boss had suggested to him that he explore the Station today, seeing as he'd been here for so little time, especially considering his trip to see Granny as she died. Kylen played the 'thoughtfully depressed' look out, and his boss just melted. But still, seeing the Station was a good idea. Kylen made his way back to his room, cleaned up and put on regular clothes, then grabbed some cred chips and went right back to the turbolifts. He went straight to Level 1, where he actually had never been before, but he soon grew tired of it. It was too commercial and also too fabricated for his liking. He tried Level 2, and 3, and found the same things. 12, 19, 33, 41, and 48 were all the same. They just didn't feel real. He only checked a few levels in the next section, already knowing it to be mainly housing. The most exciting thing on Level 88 was the barbershop run by the Twi'lek, which Kylen thought was a little fishy, seeing as Twi'leks don't have hair of their own.

He finally got into the section he knew something about. The higher numbered levels were primarily used for ship berths and repair bays, although they also were where visitors to the Station stayed. His docking bay was on 401, and he was familiar with the levels right around that. He punched the button for 250, just to give it a shot. When he got off the lift, he was surprised to see that the whole level was one giant bay. It even looked like there was no level 251, because 250 was so tall. There was lots of activity in the bay too. He saw a handful of tech crews working on ships, a few other ships being loaded, and many people walking all over the floor. Kylen was really surprised. He could only hear the general sound of work around him, but then he heard a distinctly female voice yelling from behind the first ship to his right. His curiosity got the best of him, and Kylen walked around it to investigate.

Behind the vessel was a slim brunette in coveralls dressing down a male Arconan crouched before an autowrench lying upon the deck, smoking and ruined. "That's the second one you've overloaded this week alone," the woman hollered incredulously. "How does one accomplish that? How?!" The alien offered an explanation that was cut short by the human female, who growled in frustration. "Just get it fixed so we can finish repairing this damned ship. Its pilot has a shipment scheduled and if he's delayed because of you..."

The Arconan jabbered an assurance and scrambled to replace the damaged tool. The woman followed him with her scathing glare, which was intercepted by Kylen, standing just outside the repairman's path. She smiled uncomfortably and moved towards him, her hand outstretched in greeting. "Tasia Harough. I'm the foreman around here...and I'm afraid your ship isn't quite finished yet. Sorry for the delay."

"What, this bucket of bolts? Well actually, I wish I could claim it was mine. But no, I think you've got the wrong guy. My name is Kylen Muston, I'm a tech in a private bay up on 401," he replied, taking her hand and shaking it firmly. "It's just that I'm new to the station and I was just wandering around and found my way here. This is a great bay, by the way. I wish the one I'm in was as nice." Kylen took another glance around the bay, obviously impressed with the size, activity, and how well everything was run. "It was nice to meet you, Ms. Harough, but I should be going. I'm sure you've got things to do, and I wouldn't want to keep you from them." Kylen started to turn and walk away.

"Hold on," Tasia called to him. "You work for Dal Shervos?" She chuckled dryly. "He's a crook, you know, and he pays his employees a tenth of what he makes off those repairs. You any good at repairing ships? Because if you are, your talent's wasted on him."

"Really?" Kylen turned back around and gave her a confused glance. "He's never been anything but nice to me. I needed some time off right after I started and he gave it to me. Hmm. Well, some of the other guys are a little shifty. I asked one of them for a hydrospanner the other day and he gave me a fusioncutter. Maybe you're right. And I can hold my own on repairs. I kind of specialize in modification though. I went to university for starship design, so it comes pretty naturally to me." He paused thoughtfully. "You wouldn't be looking for more hands down here now, would you?" He grinned like a schoolboy.

Tasia folded her arms beneath her bosom and smiled skeptically. "Are you asking for a job? How do I know you're any good?"

"Well, you don't. Not yet anyway. But if you'll allow me to, I'll show you." Kylen grabbed a spare hydrospanner lying on the ground and stuck his head inside the area of the engine that the Arconan had just been working on. His grin was gone now, and his brow was furrowed in concentration. He weaseled around in the tight space and had to weave the hydrospanner through lines and connections to get it where he wanted, but with just a few manipulations, he had severed two lines and then reconnected them, shaving off about 1.5 meters of wiring. He repeated the process on another set of lines, and then finally tightened two bolts and loosened a third one.

When he had finished, he pulled himself out of the engine and set the 'spanner down, saying, "There. This wiring was the problem." He held up one section, and it was immediately evident that it had been fried. "The other section just wasn't needed. When you take it out, it shortens the power loop and increases the overall efficiency. The two bolts I tightened were the reason that the lines had decayed; they weren't tight enough and the rattling put too much stress on the wire. The last bolt was just plain too tight, and probably would have ripped itself apart in another month or so from the strain." Kylen's look lightened back up, and he flashed his grin again. "Well, do you believe me now?"

Tasia shrugged indifferently, despite the lopsided smirk pulling at her lips. "An easy fix...though better than some of my regulars could do. You don't cost much, do you?"

"Well, my price can be negotiable; I don't want to keep working for a crook, now do I? My biggest issue would be getting a new place. That's part of my deal, they pay for the room as part of it."

"I can get you a room," she allowed, her sultry smile making a triumphant appearance. "You wouldn't mind bunking with me, would you?" Her wink conveyed her jest, then she added, "200 a week, plus room and board. Will that do?"

"Throw in some scrap rights and you have yourself a deal," Kylen replied. He was beaming, obviously happy to have worked this out for himself. He hadn't really realized it until Tasia had made the barb about his old boss being a crook, but he didn't really enjoy working in the private bay. Already, his imagination was running wild and he thought of how much more exciting it would be in the public bay, with all the hubbub around him.

Tasia's voice calling to him snapped Kylen back to the present and the bay foreman watching him queerly. "You're not a stimhead, are you? I'm not paying you wages to go off and buy drugs, got it?"

"What? No, sorry. I just drifted off. It normally doesn't happen. I promise. So, if I quit tomorrow, can I start working here the next day?"

"Sure," she replied, her smile a touch mischievous, "I'm sure the boys around here will have no objections to putting you through your paces. We open up shop at 08h00. Don't be late now, kid."

"I won't, Miss Harough. Thank you, and I'll see you again the day after tomorrow. You won't regret hiring me!" Kylen excitedly shook her hand and then turned around and left the bay. He took the 'lift right back to his room and laid down on his bed, thinking about how much he had just improved his life. Then he realized he needed to quit the old job tomorrow, and immediately began to dread it. What to say to a boss who had been kind to him, but he knew was crooked? His thoughts turned to that, and he worried his way off to sleep.

"Conflict in Space, Part 1"
by: Rylaa Lyssander - Crimelord
Kurt von Shultz - Self-titled Imperial Warlord
Various NPCs

Location: Just outside the Tae'Remok system.
Date: Selene 22, 5ABY

***

Preparations had been made, favors had been called, massive amounts of credits had exchanged hands. Now they gathered in a fleet no-one expected to ever see, a fleet held together by the bonds of greed with the reins of power being pulled directly by a single man who owned them. He controlled the flow of credits, he kept the law off their backs, he allowed them to operate freely with almost no interference...

... he was also passed out in the cockpit of a heavily modified Z-95 Headhunter. The fleet of pirates had gathered in the asteroid cluster on the Coreward outskirts of the Tae'Remok system. A lone TIE Scout piloted by a former Imperial had been shadowing the Star Destroyer for the past couple of days. Two of them, one of them an interdictor.

The fleet was centered around a beaten-up Nebulon-B frigate, salvage from a battle between the Rebellion and the Empire. Most of it had been patched up and as pirates do, they had added as few special things. Around the frigate swarmed countless Uglies, amalgamations of starfighters, as well as stolen X-wings, Y-wings, and TIE Fighters. A prized Squadron of B-wings were being held in reserve to engage the Interdictor's gravity well generators once a patch had been open. Also with the fleet were several ancient Dreadnaught cruisers and Corellian Corvettes. The full might of over thirty pirate groups, many of them powerful in their own right.

All being controlled by the snoozing fat man.

A loud tone warbled through the hanger area and Rylaa Lyssander awoke with a snort. Technicians and droids scuttled around the ship, making preparations for combat to the many other fighters. Despite their pirate backgrounds, many of them moved with the grace and speed of a dedicated professional. For the most part they ignored him as just another pilot. Nobody knew he was the one that held their paychecks and perhaps their lives on a string. Long dark hair and a greasy moustache, as well has three days worth of stubble, did not give the impression of a criminal overlord.

"Bosz... it'z time," Morgal's sibilant voice came over the comm bead in his ear.

Rylaa acknowledged the Barabel and sat up in the starfighter with a yawn. Sleeping in the cockpit was a long standing tradition among pilots who knew they had to be ready for combat at a moments notice. Several flight techs were already disconnecting fueling hoses and double checking missile loads. "What's the status of our boys?"

"The scout reportz that the prey is still unaware it'z being hunted. As per their usual pattern, they will pasz by here within the hour."

"Is the jammer still working?"

"Yes Bosz, we are undetectable by their sensorz."

"Excellent, I want all fighters deployed as soon as possible."

"Yez Bosz."

The cockpit of the Z-95 lowered around Rylaa while he secured his helmet. The engines had been warming for over an hour so has soon as the flight tech gave him a thumbs up, the repulsors were fired and he rocketed out into space. Several of Rylaa's lieutenants wanted to know why the crimelord would go into battle himself. Especially as one self-admitted to not being the best shot in the galaxy. The answer was simple: lead from the front. Credits would only take a man's loyalty so far, but that same man would follow another who proved himself. Even the worst sort of pirate had a semblance of honor. At least in the New Dawn they did, otherwise they were killed or black balled. A pirate without a sense of honor couldn't be trusted with the types of operations Rylaa often entrusted them with.

The Getaway had been only slightly modified since the last time it had been flown many months ago. The light blaster had been upgraded to a set of much heavier TIE blasters and the shields had been double looped into a separate charging station complete with a battery. The craft now resembled a Z-95 only in name and frame, as the many modifications had changed it enough on the exterior. The brains at Ares, however, didn't touch the high powered engines stating that there was nothing more they could do to them. The concussion missile launcher had suffered, now only able to take half the load it had in the past.

"Diamond lead checking in," Rylaa passed over the comms, "All flights report." One by one the various flight leaders began to call out their states. All of the Uglie squadrons had been given designators leadings to animals; Wampa, Mynock, Rancor. The snubfighters, X-wings and Y-wings, were given the usual color designators; blue, gold, red. Only the B-wings and the command flight had unique callsigns; Diamond and Hammerhead. When all of the squadrons had checked in, the larger ships began to report. Everything was good to go, now the predators only needed their prey.

As per their daily routine, the Indefinable and its escort Interdictor-class dropped out of hyperspace just outside of the asteroid belt. They would attempt to drop their garbage as usual, using the asteroid to hide the clumps of metal.

"Wait for it," they weren't in visual range yet and the signatures of the larger ships were being masked by a jamming pod on the Nebulon-B, the Rancor's Maw. As the Star Destroyers cruised closer, Rylaa noticed they didn't drop the usual escorts of TIEs. Something is wrong, he thought to himself, They couldn't be expecting us.

But it was too late. Being the pirates that they were, a squadron of Uglies had already kicked up the speed and were launching out of the asteroid cluster.

"Fools! Are you trying to die!" But it wouldn't stop them, the attack would have to begin. "All units, attack using Ambush Alpha." The chorus of replies was music as almost 300 ships began the attack.

TIE fighters began to swarm out of the bays of both Star Destroyers almost immediately, There they are, as well has several flights of TIE Bombers. The Dreadnaughts began to open up with their turbolasers, trading shots with the Indefinable. They would continue to do so until the Rancor's Maw left the cluster's sensor shadow and could fire on the Interdictor.

Rylaa's A-wing escorts were almost hard pressed to keep up with the Getaway with her throttle opened to max. "Alright boys, here comes the fun."

The TIE fighter pilots had obviously taken the Book of TIE to heart using their favored tactic. Spray and Pray. The swarm of TIEs opened up almost as one and a sheet of green blaster fire began to pelt down on the fighters of the New Dawn fleet. Several of the Uglies were destroyed outright, but that was expected, while the rest managed to escape the fire. The Getaway stunned her A-wings escorts by locking into a tight S-turn with a rolling switchback. The end of the maneuver brought the entire squadron behind the TIEs.

"Here's where the fun starts." TIES scattered like flies when the Z-95 and the A-wings lit them up from the rear, Rylaa could almost hear the Imperial pilots cursing.

"Rancor, go for those Bombers."

"Red 2, you've picked up a squint."

"Emperor's balls, Jarl, that's five so far."

The mixture of professional and extremely non-professional radio chatter brought a smile to Rylaa. It was easy to tell the ex-military or mercenary types and the real pirates.

"Lopan's Run is taking serious damage, rolling to starboard to bring second bank of guns to bear."

"Diamond lead, Gold 1, torpedoes away on primary target."

One of his squadrons of Y-wings had managed to launch a volley of torpedoes at the Indefinable's engines. The light blue glow fluttered and died as the plasma warheads ate deeply into the engineering section and killed the engines. They wouldn't be going anywhere for some time. A Dreadnaught flashed and died as the many banks of turbolasers shredded the shields and cut it in half.

"We lost Lopan's Run and Sugar Daddy is about ready to go."

"The Interdictor has fired up her gravity wells, nobody's going anywhere for awhile."

"Send in Hammerhead," Rylaa voxed, "and where the hell is the Rancor's Maw?"

As if on cue the Nebulon-B frigate glided from around the asteroid cluster and began to light up the Interdictor. The Kuat shipyards-built ship had strong shields, however, and it would take some time to break though.

*** On Board the Indefinable ***

The Imperial Warlord watched the battle calmly, his hands clasp behind his back. Even the alarmed cry by one of his men that the engines had been temporarily taken offline had been met with a cool glare. "Bring in our reinforcements."

*** Space ***

The Getaway flashed between two more TIEs with guns blazing, taking them both down. Diamond lead had been reduced to just him by the combined firepower of several squadrons of TIE Interceptors. The Z-95 had barely been touched. "Speed is armor baby!" Rylaa continued to shout through the comms. The Interdictor's Gravity wells had been destroyed by the Rancor's Maw before the B-wings had even been called into action and the ship itself had several visible fires burning on it.

Then several hyperspace flashes registered on the Getaway's sensor. "Son of a bitch..." Three Carrack Cruisers, several Tartan patrol craft and a Victory-class Star Destroyer. "...the bastard has reinforcements."

"Conflict in Space, Part 2"
by: Rylaa Lyssander - Crimelord
Kurt von Shultz - Self-titled Imperial Warlord
Various NPCs

Location: Just outside the Tae'Remok system.
Date: Selene 22, 5ABY

***

"Hammerhead, focus on disabling the Indefinable's weapon system, those turbolasers are tearing us apart. Blue and Silver squadron, knock those Carracks out of the sky, they'll shred the Rancor's Maw. I want two Corvettes covering the Tartans along with the Dreadnaught Fallout." Rylaa was almost screaming orders as he whipped the Getaway through the fresh squadron of TIE fighters. A flash to the rear signaled another kill.

The Imperial reinforcements were unexpected, to say the least, but apparently the self-named Imperial Warlord had made contact with a few of the other remaining Imperial planets. "Plachenko," he commed to the pirate captain on the Rancor's Maw, "Ignore the Interdictor and hit the Victory with a focused ion cannon spread near their engines. It should overload the shields and flare them out. It's an old Rebel tactic." The older pirate acknowledged and the big frigate began a lazy roll to hit the newer Star Destroyer's rear.

A Carrack cruiser exploded suddenly as several of the Y-wings in Blue Squadron nailed it with their proton torpedoes. Rylaa barely had time to notice as three TIE Interceptors fell in behind him. "Shit!" Squints were notoriously difficult to escape and their pilots were some of the best in the Imperial Navy, but the little Z-95 had one thing they didn't have... a plan.

The Getaway rolled tightly as Rylaa pushed the throttle past the safeties. It would be hell on engines but the extra boost of power allowed the snubfighter to leap forward. All the three TIEs began to fire, green flashes from their quad blasters raining hell upon the reinforced shields of the little craft. "You sons of bitches, you are so going to pay for that."

But the crimelord was separated from his men, a hazard of every space battle. Cruisers and Corvettes continued to slug it out, the Interdictor floated lazily in space, and the Victory was almost done for. Rylaa's world had become extremely focused in a fight for his life. Looming before him was the Indefinable, its man-made canyons of durasteel the perfect place to lose a tail.

"Alright you fuckers lets see if you can handle this." Rylaa gritted his teeth as he began to dodge around turbolaser batteries, girders, and anti-fighter emplacements. Many of the smaller quad-laser cannons spit a stream of death at the Z-95 as it flashed by, but they never truly got close. Sweat coated his hands as he jammed the stick to the left, veering sharply to the left just in time to zip past a sensor array and back out into open space.

The three Interceptors remained. "Shit these guys are slick." Time for a last ditch effort. Another sharp turn whipped the snubfighter around to face the massive Imperial-class Star Destroyer, he would have to run the gauntlet again, but this time at a higher rate of speed. Rylaa quickly prayed to any gods that might happen to be listening as punched the throttle to max. The Getaway began to rattle as the engines were stressed well beyond their safe limit. Lines blurred and objects whipped past the cockpit almost too fast to be identified. Within seconds that felt like hours the Z-95 shot out the other side and barrel rolled. A snap S-turn brought the craft in line to take care of the TIEs as they emerged. None of the three did.

A sigh escaped Rylaa's lips as he let out the breath he didn't even realize he had been holding. "On the bigger and badder..." his engines flared and died, "...shit" Dead in space, not a situation any pilot wanted to be in. It could take hours, if ever, before anyone noticed him missing. Without power his life support system wouldn't even last half that time.

The battle raged on in the distance. Red and green energies lanced between the capital ships while what appeared to be bees darted between then. Flames and escaping gases poured from the ruins of the bridge on the Victory class. The last of the Carrack Cruisers was fighting valiantly against the last Dreadnaught and two Corellian Corvettes but it was obvious the damage onboard was too great. Only the Indefinable was truly a threat any more, and it was slowly being taken apart by the Rancor's Maw and Hammerhead Squadron.

Darkness rimmed Rylaa's vision as more and more carbon dioxide filled the cockpit of the Getaway. He had already tried his emergency transponder but it somehow got damaged. Earlier in the battle the R3 unit he had taken to replace Credit while the droid was with Lorgal had taken a shot, the crimelord hadn't even noticed during the heat of combat.

But it was over now. The Z-95 was drifting further into the inky blackness of space and nobody knew he was missing. It was his folly to remain incognito to all but his lieutenants, now nobody really knew who he was, or how important he was to their organization. The ploy had been useful in adding to the mysticism his inner council cloaked itself in, but it only hurt him now.

It was getting harder to breath by the second. Harder to keep his eyelids open.

Did the Indefinable just run, or was that the death flash of a Star Destroyer? Thoughts tumbled in his head, leaked out and formed themselves before him. He saw his empire, newly built, begin to crumble. His hopes, his dreams of one day ruling hundreds of thousands of beings with his iron fist lay dashed on the decking.

Past mixed with present. He could see himself the first time he stole a speeder on Corellia, and how harshly Jedi Master Roguudaa punished him. When he stole aboard the freighter and left the Jedi Enclave for good seemed to blend with his return, after the Empire had come and lay waste to the area.

His one regret hung over him. A thunderhead of emotion hiding itself deep in his thoughts until he was weak enough that it would burst forth.

Why did I let her go? he sobbed silently.

Then oblivion claimed him in her gentle hands.

"Enter the Black Widow"
Tara Darellia - Pilot (NPC+)
Kai Kedemoth - Rogue Imperial Assassin (NPC+)

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 22, 5 ABY

***

Tara's Freedom drifted into one of Drogen's hundreds of large common hangers, softly setting down among a myriad of other small craft. The pilot completed the landing procedure, cycling down the power systems. Only the cooling coils remained active, emitting a dense vapor with a heavy hiss.

The access hatch unlocked and swung open. A woman appeared from the portal, mussing her shoulder length blonde hair, tangled and matted from the piloting headset. Her leather pants and sleeveless vest were well worn, softened to a comfortable fit by years of wear. Tara Darellia strolled around her ship, inspecting every seam and panel. On occasion her lips moved, as if making audible notations to herself.

Across the bay, leaning against a giant girder in a dark corner, a figure watched the scout ship land. With long black hair and black clothing, she would have been nearly invisible, but for the pale face and bare midriff. The dark, bloodshot eyes followed intently as the female pilot inspected her ship. One hand idly fingered the hilt of a sword hanging from a wide belt. The other hand traced the strange symbols tattooed on her own face.

"What are you doing with my ship, reisacat." The voice hissed underbreath. "And where is my adoring husband? The dark eyes narrowed to slits.

As Tara sealed the hatch on Tara's Freedom and walked out the hanger, the face of Kai Kedemoth broke into a feral grin. Slinking from her dark corner, she too made her way to the nearest exit.

"Another Rude Awakening"
by: Rylaa Lyssander - Crimelord
Morgal - New Dawn Agent
Various NPCs

Location: New Dawn Headquarters
Date: Selene 22, 5ABY

***

Rylaa dreamed. In his dreams he saw the galaxy laid before him. His Empire spread out, hundreds of worlds answering to his beck and call, his fist closed about each one. But something dark and sinister lay on the horizon, just out of sight. Beyond the Outer Rim? Yes, that was it, it lay beyond the Outer Rim. What does that mean?

Danger.

He realized it now. Extreme danger, but for who? Him? Lani? It would take resources, it would take research, it would take time. But time he did not have, for even has he watched the darkness crept forward inch by inch, leaving behind a corrupt backwash that threatened the stability of the region. There was a presence behind him and a sudden sickness climbed into his stomach. Rylaa wanted to vomit, to run, but instead he turned and stared into the face of terror. A scream tore from his lungs...

...And his eyes opened to see the medical facility at the New Dawn headquarters. The smell of bacta was heavy here, most of it coming from him. The throbbing in his head didn't help the disorientation.

"Gruglblaghhhh," he attempted to say. Fuck, his mouth wasn't working right. Wait, shouldn't he be dead, a lifeless corpse floating somewhere out in space?

A medical droid bobbled on over on its micro-repulsors. "Sir," it said in its halting synthesized voice, "You really must try to get some rest." Before Rylaa could answer the droid slid a needle into his arm and he was off in a dreamless sleep.

He awoke several hours later in his comfortable bed in his own quarters onboard his Tigris III station. His head still hurt and even the dim light in the room was painful. A large reptilian alien was snoozing in a chair, a datapad in his lap.

"Morgal?" the crimelord mumbled.

A Barabel's hearing is extremely sharp and the hulking form awoke with a snort. "Oh boss, you're awake."

"Yeah, I've got a pair of Rancors in my head fighting over who gets to hurt me the most, but other than that I'm pretty sure I'm alive."

"Ok Boss, you up for some news?"

"What kind is it?"

The datapad was gingerly handed to Rylaa. "I have bad news, worse news, and good news. Which do you want first?"

"Give me the bad news first, followed by the worse news, then hopefully the good news will cheer me up."

"The bad news is despite the pirate victory over the Empire, which is what our media contacts are hailing it as, that Imperial Colonel Whatshisnuts got away. We think he slipped out on a shuttle just before the Indefinable's reactors went critical. One of our agents in a nearby system caught a bit of HoloNet chatter with him talking about his defeat. He was pretty pissed about it."

"Damnit! That son-of-a-bitch is slippery. What were our losses from the fight?"

"We got hit pretty hard. Two of our pirate groups are all but evaporated and several have collapsed into each other. We almost lost the Rancor's Maw, but the old girl managed to stay together long enough to limp her back to port at Tigris II."

"Media reaction?" Rylaa asked as he read over a couple other reports on the datapad. His headache had all but disappeared as his brain shouldered it aside for important work.

"Praise, and laughing at the Empire. A few greased palms and a couple of leaks in the right places have put it that New Dawn found out about a set of particular Imperials attacking independent shipping and mustered a task force to take care of them. A lot of the larger HoloNet media moguls have also picked up the story and are broadcasting it all over. By tomorrow most of the galaxy will now that the Empire got handed a major defeat at the hands of a bunch of quote 'A bunch of pirates and criminals'."

"Excellent work. Make sure we give ample compensation to get those groups that got hit the hardest going again. Alright, what's the worse news."

"It's about the Jedi Dargus Kandran, you ordered that he be watched. Remember when he left the planet and we lost sight of him?"

"Yes. Some foolish rescue mission of somesuch wasn't it?" he asked as he adjusted his position in the bed. A silver tray with a pot of tea and a cup had been placed on the nightstand next to the bed. He poured himself a cup and inhaled the soothing aroma."

"Yeah, well he's dead." Morgal backed off a bit.

Rylaa spit out the tea in surprise. Dargus Kandran was dead? Fuck! He had plans! He was still sure that he could convince the former crimelord back to his former life. A partner as powerful as that was always good to have. "How the fuck did he die?"

"We're not sure, Boss. The crew that he was with, including a couple other Jedi, landed yesterday in a strange looking ship. A bit of intercepted radio traffic mentioned only that he was dead, but not how. Our boys tried to get a look at the body, but apparently there is none."

"So he might not be dead? With a man like Kandran you need the proof of the body. Until we get that proof, assume that he is still alive and somewhere out there. Make sure our eyes and ears get a good description of him. I don't want an active search, just make sure they keep and eye out." Dargus must have faked his own death, clever bastard. But without a body his enemies would never believe it. He was bound to show up again.

"I'll get on it, Boss. Our Intel guys figured that he faked his own death as well but we wanted to let you know before we did anything."

"Alright, and now the good news."

"Cirran Tyris has been captured."

"What!?" Rylaa exclaimed. This time he wasn't drinking any tea. "When?"

"Earlier this morning on Drogen. Our man reports that someone else was with him when he got taken. We don't have a name, only a face."

Rylaa flipped through the grainy holos of the capture but he didn't recognize the woman. "She's not important, I only want Tyris. When they arrive separate them, I don't want them talking to each other."

"You want to torturers to start warming up their pokers?" Morgal asked jokingly.

"No no. At first I wanted the man dead, but now I think he will be more useful on retainer. He obviously has the testicular fortitude to elude our bounty hunters for as long as he has, I think we can use him. I'm still going to take a few fingers as payment for that lost shipment. That set us back months in negotiations with the Coruscanti Cartel, as well as the research into the agent itself."

"And the woman, Boss?"

"Just segregate her, make sure she talks to no one. Give her whatever she asks for, within limits of course, and maybe we will let her leave with Tyris. It all depends on him."

"Ok, Boss, we'll take care of everything. There's just one more thing."

"What? Fuck, can't a man get some rest after having been brain-dead?"

"One of our boys in the palace gave a report that there might be an attack on the Jedi Temple."

Rylaa's heart stopped for a moment. He stared at the huge Barabel before exploding. "Emperor's Balls! Why the hell did you wait until the last moment to tell me that? Fuck! After we take care of Tyris we're heading back to Tae'Karada." He fumed for a couple of minutes as Morgal stammered a few apologies and left. Tossing the datapad to the foot of the bed, he'd finish reading it later, Rylaa snuggled down into bed to sleep over the day's events. The headache had returned with a vengeance and had even brought along a few of its friends.

What would tomorrow bring? Tyris and his friend would arrive by tomorrow morning, which would give him most of the day to set up his show. If anything else, Rylaa was a consummate storyteller, able to weave a fantastic tale out of thin air and fast talk the best of them. All of this carried over when he conducted business with what he considered Outsiders, people who weren't in the know on who actually ran New Dawn. Part of the mysticism was the little ceremonies and whatnot concocted by himself and his lieutenants to keep their closer operatives in line. It was almost like a religion.

His eye shot open with as the idea struck him. A religion! It was perfect, they could make the Core of the New Dawn a religion! It would have to start small, as if it were there the whole time, but more and more people are being brought into the fold. He would need a God, or a pantheon of Gods, or an Ideal that could be worshipped. Yes, yes, it was perfect. Eventually they could expand and bring others in, become a public religion.

To much, too fast, that's what it was. A good idea, but another that would have to be worked out after the current troubles. Rylaa's eyes slowly closed as his medication took away his pain.

"All In The Timing"
by: Lerrah Breijal
Cirran Tyris

Location: Docking Bay, Drogen Shipyards
Date: Selene 22nd, 5ABY

***

Bold. Bolder.

Alcohol has an emboldening effect. At least when it doesn't put a person to sleep or sends them to seek solace in the 'fresher. For Lerrah Breijal, it made her feel quite bold as she carefully stepped through the corridors of the shipyard.

She wasn't truly drunk, but she had been drinking. She could feel the effects, and in this one task it was liberating. It had been enough. She and Rilanna had finished an entire bottle of wine from one of the larger vineyards in Tae'Karada's southern continent. It was too good. She was past tipsy, but not nearly to falling down.

She was feeling incredibly bold though, and that boldness had led her to Docking Bay 63. In front of her was Fool's Hope and she had to smile. She approached and ran a hand along the undersurface of the ship.

"Hello, girl," she whispered.

She pushed away the melancholy that waited below the surface of her emotions. It had lingered there since that fateful day when the Pride had been forced down. It's only been a few days, she thought.

But there had been some solace offered by Kimara who'd offered some help getting a new ship. The Pride would be missed, but Lerrah looked at Cirran's ship and knew she wanted to find something similar. But that would wait until tomorrow. Tonight, she had other plans. As she stepped over to the hatch, she couldn't help think that Fool's Hope seemed to be a more apt name for her current mission, and it brought a smile to her face as she banged on the plating next to the hatch. "Cirran," she called. "It's Lerrah. Open up!"

Momentarily the small screen next to the hatch that allowed visual communication between the exterior and interior of the ship, a modification of Cirran's, flicked into life, revealing the worried looking face of the ship's owner. "Lerrah?" Cirran asked, puzzled. "What are you doing here? Is everything OK?"

"Hey, Cirran," she said with a grin. "I was just stopping by to say hi. Everything's fine. Just perfect. Can I come in? I feel silly talking to your little face in the side of your ship."

Relieved that nothing else was going wrong, Cirran gave a small smile. "It does have that effect on people," he admitted. Inwardly, he sighed: he had hoped to make a quiet exit from the station, without awkward good-byes. Still, he could hardly just tell Lerrah to sod off, and maybe she could explain to the others afterwards. "OK, you'd better stand clear of the ramp," he said. "Never know when it's going to play up, and I'd be upset if I squashed you." For once though, the ship behaved itself, and the hydraulics lowered the ramp gently to the decking as they were supposed to. The tall pilot met the girl at the top of the ramp.

"Hey," Lerrah said, her gaze meeting his as she only stumbled slightly as she got to him. "I was in the area, and thought I'd stop by. It's not a bad time, is it? It seems like I haven't seen you in forever."

A bad time? Why, yes, it is, he said internally, but left it at that for now. "Yeah...I would have come and looked you guys up since I got back, but I've been busy wrestling Gamorreans and getting into gun battles, as you may have heard," Cirran explained. "You hear what happened to Walker?"

"I heard a little," Lerrah said, managing to only wobble slightly as she stood in front of him. "Tasia's really upset about it, I know, but she's trying to not let anyone show. I'm glad you're not hurt, Cirran. Things have been really wild lately. I lost my ship. Shot down. Big heroic rescue mission, and whammo! Shot down. I'm going to get one just like yours, and I'm going to call it Hopeless Fool."

Things were wild all right, Cirran thought, thinking not just about the recent violence and the mark on his head, but also about the strange relationship between Walker, Tasia and Lerrah. "Your ship got shot down?" he started. "What were you...never mind. I'm sorry about your ship...actually I'm sorry about a lot of things. Look, Lerrah...I wasn't actually going to say...I mean you just caught me..." The pilot sighed. "I'm leaving. Now," he finished simply.

"No," she said, though it seemed to carry meaning on many levels. "You...can't...I just...I just found the...I mean..." She let out a sigh and wished she hadn't had so much to drink. "You can't just go, Cirran. I just realized...and if you went, I don't think I'd...I could..." She could tell she was at the point of panicking. "Cirran, I like you a lot...really a lot." She felt herself move closer, gazing up and up and up at him. She grinned at him, then felt a wave of giggling laughter strike. "You're really tall, you know?"

"An A-Wing's a squeeze, yeah," Cirran mumbled automatically, but his mind was not really on the dimensions of Alliance fighter craft cockpits. This was certainly a new - and totally unexpected - development. "You mean you like me like me? But...I mean...you and the chief...I thought that you weren't into...?" he managed, utterly bamboozled. Great. She's drunk, and I'm merely a stuttering idiot, he thought.

"I didn't either," she said with a grin. "And Tasia and I aren't anything exclusive. She'd be the first to say that, I'm sure. And she's hot after Walker. I don't quite know when it happened, but I really realized it the other night." She watched as her hand came up, brushing lightly against his chest. "I...I needed half a bottle of wine to get up the courage to come see you. But here I am." She wobbled slightly, but steadied herself with the light touch against his sternum. "So, ya see? You can't leave now. At least, I hope you won't. Or, if you do, you can take me with you. I can be your co-pilot. You know we work well together. I mean, with the Coruscant run...it's like we were a team."

Cirran took another look at the girl pressed up against him, re-evaluating. She's beautiful, he thought. It was also true enough that they got along well - barring the occasional argument about who was a better pilot. But he hadn't really thought about anything more...had he? Had he thought about Lerrah like he'd thought about Mielikki, the girl who had crashed into his life so suddenly? Well, perhaps, but then...I thought she liked girls! his brain protested. That certainly had put a dampener on things. But now, well...now liking her a whole lot had taken on a whole new context. This was...well, it was big.

However, the thought kiss her was suddenly interrupted by a reminder of why he had been leaving in the first place. He was supposed to keep his friends out of danger, not bring them closer to whatever trouble he was in - and he wasn't going to go through getting close to someone just to lose them again. He summoned up some resolve, and gently pushed Lerrah's hand back down do her side.

"Look, Lerrah, you've caught me by surprise here...I mean...I'd love to... To what? " It was suddenly impossible to look her in the eyes. "I can't stay, and you can't come with me. I'm not going to be responsible for getting anyone - especially you - hurt, or worse. Since Coruscant - well, these are serious people, Lerrah. I'm not going to be lucky forever, and I don't want anyone to know you were involved. I couldn't handle it if something happened...I can't let it happen."

"I'm responsible for myself," Lerrah sa